AI CAPITAL INTELLIGENCE
Root Ventures | Institution profile
Institution at a glance
Root Ventures is a San Francisco-based deep-tech seed fund led by investors with engineering backgrounds. It typically leads initial rounds for technical founders taking engineering risk, with a public focus on robotics, hardware, manufacturing, developer tools, machine learning, semiconductors and automation.
Source verification date: · Investment strategy, team and contact details come from Root’s official site. Its portfolio page shows selected examples, not a complete list. Illoca’s USD 13 million is the company’s seed-round total; the announcement names Root as a participant and does not disclose its individual check.
Recorded financing connections
- Illoca, Inc.2026-05-06 · Seed · USD 13,000,000
These are recorded participations, not a complete portfolio or performance score.
Names follow their disclosed form. Descriptive English renderings of Chinese names are not verified legal names. Original quotations are shown in their source language.
Key facts
| Investment stage | Seed-stage deep tech; usually leads initial financings for technical founders. |
|---|---|
| Typical initial investment | USD 3–5 million, according to the firm. |
| Investment focus | Robotics, hardware, manufacturing, developer tools, machine learning, semiconductors and automation. |
| Leadership listed on the firm’s site | Avidan Ross (Managing Partner); Kane Hsieh, Chrissy Meyer and Lee Edwards (Partners). |
Public record
- Root’s portfolio page lists companies including Particle, Dusty Robotics, Instrumental and Illoca. These are selected portfolio examples, not a complete portfolio or fund-return record.
- Illoca’s company announcement reports a USD 13 million seed round with Root Ventures as a participant. The amount is the company’s round total; Root’s individual check was not disclosed.
Official contact details
- Official website: Root Ventures
- General inquiries: hello@root.vc
- San Francisco office: 2670 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
Sources
- 1. Root Ventures — Deep tech seed fund in San Francisco
Root Ventures is a San Francisco-based deep tech seed fund. As engineers ourselves, we specialize in leading initial funding for founders tackling new technical opportunities. Our initial investments typically range from $3-5M.
- 2. Illoca Raises $13 Million Seed Round Led by Bessemer Venture Partners | GlobeNewswire
with participation from AIX Ventures, Root Ventures and Alt Ventures